Oil separator



Patented Apr. 30, 1929.

UNITE-D STATES oAnRs J. KENYON, OF SANTA BARBARA, cALIFORNIA', ASSIGNOR, nir- MESNE Assren mmrrs, TO INSTANT ICE CORPORATION, A coRroRATIONOr DELAWARE... I

OIL SEPARA'I'OR.

Application filed July 25, 1927. Serial No. 268 ,37 7.

The invention relates to pump constructions and finds particular utility in compressors for use in connection with refrigerating apparatus. 7

An important'object of the present i11vention is to provide an oil separator arranged within the piston and designed toefiiciently provide for the segregation or separation of the refrigerant from the oil prior toitsentrance into the cyilnder above the piston.

The invention has also among its objects to simplify, render more efficient, and improve generally devices of this character, and these as well as other objects,,advantages and novel details of construction will be made more apparent as this description proceeds, especially when considered in connection with the ac companying drawings, wherein,

Figure 1 is a sectional view through the cylinder and piston of a compressor embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged-sectional viewt-alren on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, and A Figure 3 is a sectional view talren substan tially on the line 33 of Figure 1." p I In the drawings wherein like reference characters indicate likeparts, it will be noted that a portion of the compressor is illustrated at comprising a cylinder 11 within which a hollow piston 12 is reciprocably mounted.

In practice, a certain per cent of the lubricant contained. in the crank case (not shown) of the compressor becomes mixed or intermingles with the refrigerating medium and is pumped by the compressor through the refrigerating system. This action is obyectionable as the oil will accumulate in the system, and particularly'in the expansion coil and become viscous, which impedes the passage of the gas and reduces the eiiiciency of the device. In accordance with the presentinvention, however, the refrigerant ctuitaining a bertain per cent of the lubricant passing into thehollow piston upon the suction stroke ofthe 1atter is separated from the lubricant. For acconipliehing this result an oil separating chamber 13 is inserted within the upper portion of the hollow piston. As shown this chamber is preferably cylindrical and is formed with a substantially flat bottom 14 and an inverted cone shaped top 15 having the central opening 16. In order to permit the gas to pass upwardly into the chamber 13 the bottom 14 thereof is formed with a series of apertures As, shown these leper-1 tures are spaced aconsiderable"distance from the outer wall of thechamber and are punched in such a manner as'to make theopenin'gs point tangentiallytowards'the side walls of the chamber, as clearly shown in Figure 2. lVith such an arrangement thegas containing thehibricant uponf passing through the apertures 1 will have a tendency to flow in the direction indicated by the ar row in Figure 2 causing a centrifugal action inthe chamber 13 tendingto separate the oil from the refrigerant. M This action is accentuated because of the gi-eaterspecific gravityf of the oil, which upon entering'th'e chamber 13 is not sufiiciently suspended by the refrig-' erant to be drawn upwardly and through the central openin 16, but on the other hand fills in the chant ports 18 formed in the bottom 14 of the chamber adjacent the side Walls hereof. The downwardly inclined walls of the inverted conical top 15 cooperate with the side walls ofthe chamber to form apocket for arresting the gas prior to its escape through the central aperture 16, therebyinsuring a complete separation between the gas and lubricant." For eiiicientlyfholdingthe" oil separating chamber 15 in the topIpertionoft-he piston,

a wrist pin bearing.l'9isprovided. As shown this bearing threadedly engages the skirt the piston and is formed with a circumferentially extending seat portion QO'at the top thereof engageable with thebottom wall-of;

the chamber. Theftop of the bearing is further formed with mmen e conical-poi tion 21 the inner-edge of which extends inwardly to a point beyond the oil outlet, ports 18. With such anarrangement the conical portion 21 not only functions as an etficient 9 guide for the oil passing through the ports 18, but also cur-tails orirestricts the gas fr nI flowing up through the ports 18.

In order to permit the gasflowi all u pivardly through the ce'ntrz'lljapertiu'e 16' to enter the cylinder above the piston, the-head of the latter is formed with afplurality of valve. controlled ports'22. The valve may be of any suitable construction, opening as the pi'ston descends to permit'the gas to flow into the cylinder'and closing as the piston rises to allow the gas to be compressed in the cy1-' inder.

In use, asthe piston descends the refrig'rg ant mixed more or less with the lu r c nt;

ioo

will pass up from the crank case of the compressor through the ports 17 and, due to the particular configuration of these ports, will be directed towards the side walls of the separating chamber 13, wherein the oil is separated from the refrigerant in a manner heretofore set forth. The refrigerant then passes up through the central aperture 16 and ports 22 into the cylinder. The oil on the other hand flows through the ports 18 upon the inclined wall 21 and into the crank case. In this connection it is to be noted that, if for any reason the gas is expelled from the oil separating chamber before the lubricant has been entirely sepa ated therefrom, this lubricant is invariably separated from the gas on its ascent to the ports 22. The lubricant falls upon and is collected by the downwardly inclined walls of the inverted cone top of the chamber 13 and flows back through the aperture 16 into the chamber 13. Thus it will be apparent that the top wall of the chamber 13 cooperates with the head of the piston to form a second arresting chamber.

What I claim as my invention:

1. In a compressor, the combination with a reciprocatory hollow piston, of a lubricant arresting chamber arranged within and detachably secured to said piston.

2. In a compressor, the combination with a rcciprocatory hollow piston, of a substantially cylindrical lubricant arresting chamber sleevedwithin said piston.

3. In a compressor, the combination with a reciprocatory piston having a series of open ings in the top portion thereof for the flow of refrigerant, of a hollow lubricant arresting chamber arranged within. said piston directly beneath. said openings and having an opening communicating with the openings in said piston.

4. In a compressor the combination with a rcciprocatm'y piston. of a lubricant arresting chamber associated with said piston having a bottom wall formed with a. plurality of spirally inclined ports for the flow of refrigerant.

5. In a compressor, the combination with a reciprocatory piston having a series of openings for the ilow of refrigerant, of a lubricant arresting chamber arranged within said piston having an aperture communicating with the openings aforesaid and having a plurality of spirally inclined ports in the bottom wall thereof.

6. In a compressor, the combination with a reciprocatory hollow piston, of a lubricant arresting chamber removably secured within said piston. p

7 In a compressor, the combination with a reciprocatory piston therein, and a lubricant arresting chamber associated with said piston having a bottom formed with a plurality of spirally inclined ports for the flow of refrigerant and also formed with a plurality of passages spaced outwardly from the ports for the flow of the lubricant.

8. In a compressor, the combination with a reciprocatory hollow piston having a series of valve controlled openings for the flow of refrigerant, of a cylindrical lubricant arresting chamber arranged within the upper portion of the piston having a bottom formed with a plurality of openings constituting the inlet ports for the refrigerant and oil and having an inverted cone-shaped top formed with a central aperture constituting the outlet passage for the refrigerant.

9. In a compressor, the combination with a reciproca-tory hollow piston having an opening therein for the flow of refrigerant, of a lubricant arresting chamber arranged within said piston having a diameter substantially equal to the interior diameter of the piston, said chamber being formed with an inverted cone-shaped top apertured to establish communication between the chamber and openings aforesaid.

10. In a compressor, the combination with a reciprocatory hollow piston, a lubricant arresting chamber arranged within said piston, of means for securing said chamber in said piston including a member threadcdly engaging said piston.

11. In a compressor, the con'ibination with a. reciprocatory hollow ,piston, of a lubricant arresting chamber arranged within said piston, and means for securing said chamber in said piston including a wrist pin bearing detachably engaging said piston and having a portion abutting the bottom of said chamber.

12. In a compressor, the combination with a reciprocatory hollow piston, of a lubricant arresting chamber arranged within said piston having a plurality of spirally inclined ports for the flow of refrigerant and having a plurality of passages spaced outwardly from the ports aforesaid constituting outlet passages for the lubricant, and a wrist pin bearing threadedly engaging the piston having a portion abutting the bottom, of said chamber to hold the same in place and having an inverted conical portion projecting inwardly past the passages aforesaid for collecting the lubricant flowing therethrough and for preventing the refrige ant from passing upwardly through the passages.

13. In a compressor, the con'ibination with a reeiprocatory hollow piston, of a lubricant arresting chamber arranged within said piston having an inverted cone-shaped top cooperating with the inner surface of the piston head to form a second lubricant arresting chamber.

1 1. In a compressor, the combination with apiston, of a lubricant arresting chamber arranged within said piston and adapted to receive a fluid, said chamber having means for effecting a whirling action of the fluid upon the entrance of the latter in said chamber.

15. In a compressor, the combination with a piston having a Wrist pin bearing, of a lubricant arresting chamber arranged within said piston and held in place by saidwrist pin bearing.

16. In a compressor, the combination with a piston, of a lubricant arresting chamber disposed Within said piston and having substantially cylindrical side walls bearing against the inner walls of said piston.

17. In a compressor, the combination with a piston, of a lubricant arresting chamber arranged Within said piston having a depressed apertured top Wall cooperating with the head of said piston to form a second arresting chamber.

18. In a compressor, the combination with a piston havin a Wrist pin bearing, of a lubricant arresting chamber clamped between said Wrist pin bearing and head oi said piston.

19. .In combination, a piston having a ported head and a depending skirt, means in the skirt for directing a mixture of fluids toward the side Walls of said skirt, and meansabove i the means aforesaid for arresting one of said fluids While permitting another of said fluids to flow to said ported head. 7

20. In combination; a piston having a-ported head and a depending skirt, a chamber Within the skirt having means in its bottom wall for directing a mixture of fluids toward the side Walls of said chamber so that one of said fluids will be arrested, having meansin the top \Vtl-ll for permitting another of said fluids to floW to said ported head and having other means in its bot-tom Wall for permitting the escape of the arrested fluid. V y

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

OADES J. KENYON; 

